Clive Robinson
With six Maiden Plates on the card at the Vaal on Thursday 7 July, and a number of first-timers out to strut their stuff, it’s not easy to find a handful of winners.
For some of the maidens it’s a chance to show that they are on the way up, while for others it seems to be a case of last chance saloon.
In Race 1, for a Juvenile Maiden Plate for fillies, Lady Of Power and Silver Mensa are the standout runners.
Trained by Joe Soma, Lady Of Power seems to have grasped the concept of racing halfway through her debut run.
This daughter of Master Of My Fate was quite happy to run in the bunch on her first outing at the Vaal over 1100m when she suddenly seemed to realise there’s more at stake than the view.
She stepped up a gear when jockey Julius Mariba asked her to, and accelerated to move up from the wrong end of the field to finish third, 1.8-lengths off winner Time Fo Orchids, despite a brush wound.
This time round Gavin Lerena will be in the saddle and with a bit more discipline from the man holding the reins, she looks a good bet.
Silver Mensa, from Paul Peter’s stable, was a lot more race-ready on debut down the Turffontein straight over 1160m. She kept up with the pace all the way before running out of steam and choking up, but nevertheless ran third, just 2-lengths behind Antigua Night. With Warren Kennedy retaining the ride, expect better second time out.
Both these runners should come on in leaps and bounds from their respective first outings and it won’t come as a surprise if this turns into a two-horse race.
In Race 2, where a dozen juvenile colts and geldings test their mettle, Fort Lauderdale and Timeinthewoods look the pair to fight out the finish.
The aforementioned jumped at 25-1 in his first outing but nevertheless finished runner-up behind Clean Living.
Considering that Clean Living is carded to contest the first race on Durban July Day, Fort Lauderdale’s effort seems to be much better than expected.
It would pay bettors to keep a close eye on Clean Living’s run on Saturday 2 July as this might give a very good indication of that form line.
Timeinthewoods has finished runner-up in his last two outings and perhaps needs just a bit more time to mature and find his running shoes.
Also from Peter’s yard, this son of Time Thief does seem to be a difficult boy. Obviously with a mind of his own, he will have Muzi Yeni in the saddle for the third time, and if the amicable jockey can convince him to calm down and settle, he will be a factor to be reckoned with.
